Drier



28, 1931. w, 5, PFEIFER 1,816,055

DRIER Filed om. 2a, 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 1 a 20 V/IIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIM Mam? 5.21mi

July 28, 1931. w. s. PFEIFER DRIER Filed Oct. 26, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet .wlln

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Qswm zuw v July 28, 1931. w, 5, PFEIFER 1,816,055

DRIER Filed Oct. 26, 192'! 5 Sheets-Sheet a.

Patented July 28, 1931 WALTER-S. PFEIFER, OF MILWAUKEE, IWISCONSIN DRIER Application filed October 26, 1927. Serial No. v228,783.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in driers ofthc type especially designed for use in public lavatories, factory wash rooms and the like, thus 6 obviating the necessity of towels, and has as an object the provision of a machine of the character described in which the velocity of dryingair is properly proportioned to the temperature ofthe. air so as to insure the 10 rapid drying of the users hands without any discomfort.

Heretofore devices of this character have been controlled by a hand operated switch,

which is objectionable inthat the operating lever or switch becomes a carrier of disease germs, especially as it must be manipulated with wet hands.

lVith the. above and other objectionable features in mind, this invention has as one of its objects the provision of a very durable and practical drier, the switch of which is operated by a foot ,pedal which holds the switch in ope-rativeposition only during the period the pedal is depressed and which Is so constructed and designed as to be capable of withstanding all the abuses to which a machine used by the general public is subjected.

Another object of this invention resides in the pro'vision of an improved drier of the character described, which will very efiiciently. and quickly dry a persons hands, and which has means for readily adjusting the speed of its .motor and consequently the velocity of the blast.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved heating element which is so designed and arranged that the incoming air is instantly heated to a desired degree with a minimum current consumption and which is so arranged as to prevent any possible injury to users and also any possible damage to the machine by 1ts careless use.

,It is another objectvof this invention to provideanimproved drier of the character described in which the useful area of the heating element is capable of ready adjust-- ment to permit the regulation of the drier to suit any particular installation.

Another object of this invention resides in' theprovision of a machine of the character described which is so designed that water falling into the blast outlet when the device is inoperative will not touch any .vital spot and is instantly drained therefrom.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a device of the character described having a substantially one vpiece hood encasing the operating parts/to thoroughly protect the same against entrance of foreign matter and having an opening in its under surface through which the air enters for the blower, the air cooling the motor to preventover heating inits passage to the heating element.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved device of the character described having a vertical standard or support with a flange or flare at its upper end over which an enclosing hood or housing surrounding the operating mechanism fits with its lower marginal edges extending therebeyond and slightly spaced therefrom to provide an air inlet through 7 which the air is supplied to the drier.

And a. still further object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved switch structure for a device of the character described which is so designed and constructed as to require a minimum of movement and which will 'be extremely durable.

lVith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawingsfl have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according iothe best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a View, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a drier embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a view, partly in top plan and partly in section, and taken through Figure 1 011 the plane of the line 22.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through Figure 1 on the plane of the line 33;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in top plan and partly in section, illustrating the manner of mounting the movable switch lever;

Figure 5 is a detail view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the treadle actuated means and its connection with the switch lever; V

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the improved heating element detached, parts thereof being broken away to illustrate structural details; i

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the marginal edge portion of. the top of the heater casing;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail View, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating one of the heating element mounting members;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the wiring diagram when the device is used with 110 volts, and

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 illustrating the wiring diagram when the device is used in-connection with 220 volts.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings inwhich like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 designates a'hollow pedestal or standard having a flared base'6 adapted to be bolted or otherwise fixed toa floor and a flared top 7 of substantially rectangularv shape and providing flange over which housing or casing 8 is secured.

Mounted on the flange top of the pedestal is a bed plate or base 9, to which a motor 10 secured by screws or other means 11, the plate 9 havinga well 12'parallel with the motor axis and into which oil conveying tubes 13 having wicks therein extend from the bearings of the motor so that a relatively large amount of lubricant may be supplied through a filling spout or other means 14. The shaft 15 of the motor extends into a blower: 16 consisting of a casing 17 having a tangentially and vertically disposed outlet duct 18 and a central air inlet 19, see Figure 3', in its side opposite the motor. The blower 16 is rigidly mounted on a plate 20 secured to the side. of the casing 17 opposite its air inlet by screws or other means 21, and the plate is fixed to the base 9 by screws 22.

Anannular flange 23 surrounds the air inlet opening 19 and is flattened at diametrically. opposed points to fit within the rectangular shaped housing of a heating unit 24, to be later described, which is secured to the flange by screws or other means 25. The plate 9 does not extend entirely across the flange 7 and has a reduced projection 26 at its inner end from which a line conduit 27 and the switch operating mechanism, to be later described, are supported.

The heating unit 24 is secured within an open ended housing, formed by top and bottom walls 28 and 29, respectively, and side walls 30 and 31, the walls 28 and 29 having slots or recesses 32 comunicating with their side edges and to be closed at their outer ends by flanges 33 on the marginal edges of the side walls and directed over the edges of the walls 28 and 29 and there secured by screws or bolts 34 to secure the housing together. The heating element 35 is preferably of a continuous length supported at spaced points from stagger-ed bushings 36 carried by the top and bottom walls, the center portion of the element being secured to a bushing 37 engaged in a slot 38 in one end of the top wall and there secured by cement or other means 39 and its ends being secured to bushings 40 mounted in slots 41 in the opposite end of the bottom wall and there secured by curling that portion of the metal between the slots 41, as at42, see Figure 6.

The element bushings are of approximately spool shape, having a central groove or channel 43 of a width to receive either the top or bottom walls and the bushings 36 are secured in place by the flanges 33 of the side walls closing the outer ends of the slots 32. The bushings also are provided with central bores 44 which communicate with recesses or counterbores 45 in the heads thereof and through which terminal or element mounting studs 46 pass, the intermediate bushings having insulating cement or other means 47 filling the recesses over the heads of the mounting studs 46 and the bushings 37 and 40 having threaded terminals 48 extended therefron'i, as est shown in Figure 6. The bushings 36 nearest the bushing 37 likewise have terminal studs 49 extended therefrom, for the purpose later described.

An insulating panel 50 is supported from one side wall of the heating unit and terminals 51 and 52 are fixed to the panel and have outside service lines 53 connected therewith. The terminal' 51 connected with one side of a suitable switch mechanism 54, to be later described, by a conductor55 and the other side of the switch structure is connected with the ends of the heating element by a common conductor 56, the terminal 48 connected with the center of the heating ele ment being connected with the other side of the line by conductors 57 and 58 leading to the terminal 1 Then the outside service voltage is 110, the motor is parallel with the heating element having one side connected with the conductor 56 by a conductor 59 and its other side connected with the terminal 52 through a conductor 60, and the conductor 58.

However, assuming that the service voltage is 220, both parts of heating element are in series and the motor is in parallel with one part, the terminal 48 connected with the center of the element being connected with one side of the motor by a conductor 61., and the other side of the motor being connected with the terminal 52 through a conductor 62.

The switch mechanism 54 consists of a tube 63 having contacts 64 and 65 extended thereinto and adapted to be bridged by a mov ble contactor 66 such as mercury, the tube being detachably mounted on a lever 67 by spring clips or other means 68. The lever 67 is medially pivoted to the projection 26 of the plate 9 by a screw or other means the axis of which passes through the center of gravity of the mercury tube 63, and one end of the lever 67 has a counter-balance 7 0 thereon and the other end an angular piec 71 with which the upper end of an operating rod 72 is connected, in the manner to be later described. A treadle pivotally mounted at the base of the pedestal is connected with the rod 72 so that depressing or the treadle moves lever 67 on is pivot to swing the tube 63 to a position where the contaetor 66 bridges the contacts 64 and 65 to establish the circuits of the heating element and motor.

As the pivot 69 of the lever 67 passes through the center oi gravity ot the mercury tube it will be readily apparent that only a small movement out the treadle is necessary to actuate the switch mechanism and as a result rapid and continued actuation of the treadle will not be injurious to the tube as the inertia of the mercury will. retain the switch in one position during such abuse.

The rod 72 and the treadle 7 3 are normally urged to their inoperative positions by an expansile spring 7%, held in compression between an arm '75 and a nut 79 threaded on the rod, suitable cups 8O proviuing seats for the ends of the spring. The arm 75 is supported from the projection 26 by bolts or other means 76 passed therethrough and through spacing sleeves 77 and 78, and a second arm 81 is secured in alignment with the arm 75 between the spacing members, nuts threaded on the lower ends of the bolts 76 firmly holding the arms and spacing members in position.

The arm 81 forms a stop limiting upward movement of the rod 72 under influence of the spring 74, the nut 79 abutting thereagainst. The rod 72 extends upw. rdly through the arm 81 and is freely slid-ably passed through an opening in the horizontal portion 82 of the angular member 71, and has an expansile spring 83 coiled about its upper end, the spring being confined between the portion 82 and a cup 84 held in place by a nut 85 threaded on theiextreme upperend of 'ihe downw rd movement, which very otten a severe blow, and preventing injury Tfi'ltC'i, the lever 67Vmoving downwardlatter portion 82 of the angular .i' carrie thereby engages the arm "wil of the rod merely p L s H anc 83.

d upward movement of the frat portion of the memic pressure on the treadle. is reie springs to snap the rod he switch lever with it, i ts epen position by the '76, spring 83 cushioning er bale nco e that the speed of the i need, and when the drier voltage .otllO this'is done the conductor60 from the lines 60'' in i 9. It will be apparent that when the .stud ltl farthest from the conused, the motor speed will be the minimum which the adjustment permits. it is also obvious that the contacts 49. on either side of the heater element may be used.

.When the service voltage is -220, the reduction of the motor speed is affected by disconnecting the conductor 61 from contact 48 and cor ctin with any of the lower contacts nigure 10) as shown by dotted lines 6i", the desiret degree of reduction govez-rning the selection o the contact-4.9 with which the motor lead is connected. Connecting the motor lead 61 with any of the upper contact studs 49, in Figure 10, i-nthe soeed, as will be readily apparent. 'leans are also provided to increase the intensity of the heat produced by the element, which is accomplished. by shortening the length 0 he element by connecting two opposite con ac" studs in the manner shown by the dotter lines 57 in Figure 9.

As long as the treadle is held down the cir cuits remain closed,the air entering the hood or case 8 through the space which extends around its lower periphery. being heated as it passes through the heating element to the inlet of the blower, and being efipelled'in the usual manner at a velocity which is readily gover able. as has been described.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an appliance or" the character described, a supporting b.ase, drying mechanism mounted on the base and including a blower having an air inlet and outlet, a housing entirely enclosing the drying mechanism, the housing having an opening with which the air outlet registers, and an air inlet passage between the adjacent edges of the housing and base and through which air enters the interior of the housing to the blower.

2. In an appliance of the character de scribed, a supporting base, drying mechanism mounted on the base and including a blower having an air inlet and outlet, a housing entirely enclosing the drying mechanism, the housing having an opening with which the air outlet registers, an air passage between the adjacent edges of the housing and base and through which air enters the interior of the housing to the blower, and means for heating the air expelled through the blower outlet.

3. In an appliance of the character described, a supporting base, drying mechanism mounted on the base and including a blower having an air inlet and outlet, a housing entirely enclosing the drying mechanism and having an opening with which the air outlet registers, an air passage between the adjacent edges of the housing and base and through which air enters the interior of the housing to the blower, an open ended member communicating with the blower inlet, and means within said member for heating the air passing therethrough to the blower.

4. In an appliance of the character described, a supporting base, drying mechanism mounted on the base and including a blower having an air inlet and outlet, a housing entirely enclosing the drying mechanism and hvaing an opening with which the air outlet registers, an air passage between the adjacent edges of the housing and base and through which air for the blower enters the interior of the housing, an open ended member communicating with the blower inlet, means within said member for heating the air passing therethrough to the blower, a motor for operating the blower, and means for controlling said'motor speed.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a pedestal, a base plate on the upper end of the pedestal, a drying mechanism mounted on the base plate above the pedestal and including a motor, a blower driven thereby having an air inlet and an air outlet and a heating element for air impelled by the blower, a housing supported from the pedestal and entirely enclosing the drying mechanism and with said pedestal imparting a neat exterior appearance to the device, means for supplying air to the blower inlet, and an air outlet carried by the casing and with which the blower outlet registers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

WV ALTER S. PFEIFER. 

